Glossary
What is inventory linking?
Inventory linking is the process by which a port’s community system provider matches a customs declaration to the physical consignment held in temporary storage, releasing the goods only once customs and the port have both cleared them. |
How does inventory linking work?
The consignment is recorded in the port’s inventory system on arrival Destin8 and CNS Compass are the best-known. The declaration quotes the matching consignment reference, CDS returns clearance against it, and only then does the community system provider release the goods for collection.
Why the reference has to match exactly
A mismatched consignment reference is one of the most common reasons a load sits at a container terminal. Customs may have cleared the entry, but the port cannot tie it to anything on its inventory, so the goods stay in temporary storage while demurrage and storage charges build.
Which ports use it?
- Container terminals and airports with temporary storage facilities, where goods are held until clearance.
- RoRo terminals generally do not they run the pre-lodgement model instead, clearing before arrival.
- Goods in temporary storage face a statutory time limit before they must be entered to a customs procedure.
iCustoms quotes the right consignment reference on every entry, so port and customs release together. |
